Why Early Access?

“KritterRun is a new kind of language learning game — one that teaches Japanese through racing mechanics instead of flashcards and quizzes. Early Access lets us put the game in players' hands while we continue building out levels, vocabulary sets, and features based on real feedback. We've already tested extensively with players at conventions and on college campuses with strong results, and now we want to grow alongside our community as we develop the full experience.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We're targeting a full 1.0 release on August 3, 2026. During that time we'll be adding new content, polishing existing features, and incorporating community feedback on a regular basis.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The full release will include:

- Additional race tracks and difficulty levels
- Expanded vocabulary and kanji content covering beginner through intermediate Japanese
- Enhanced character customization with unlockable skins and cosmetics
- Improved audio with more native speaker pronunciations
- Progress tracking/login system
- Split screen Multiplayer features for racing against friends
- Refined UI/UX based on player feedback
- Performance optimizations and bug fixes”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“- Playable racing levels covering hiragana, katakana, vocabulary, and kanji
- Binary gate system where players match Japanese words to translations at speed
- Kanji tracing mechanic where you run your character over stroke lines
- Character customization system
- Audio pronunciation from native Japanese speakers
- Single-player gameplay with AI opponents
- no player login system

The game is fully playable and functional. We've tested it with 50-100 players at events like KomoriCon 2026 and across UT Austin's campus, and players consistently report having fun while actually retaining what they learn.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“KritterRun is free to play during Early Access and will remain free to play after the full 1.0 release. We want to remove every barrier to learning Japanese. Down the road, we plan to introduce optional cosmetic items (character skins, customization options) as our monetization model — similar to how Fortnite handles it. No pay-to-win, no paywalls on learning content.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We're building KritterRun with our players, not just for them. Here's how you can help shape the game:

- Steam Community Discussions — Share feedback, report bugs, and suggest new features or vocabulary you'd like to see
- In-game feedback — Let us know which levels work, which are too hard or too easy, and what keeps you coming back
- Social media — Follow us @KritterRun on Instagram and TikTok for development updates and to connect with other players
- Convention demos — We will do more regular demo at anime and gaming conventions — come play and tell us what you think in person

Your feedback directly influences what we prioritize. If the community wants more kanji content, we build more kanji content. If a mechanic isn't clicking, we fix it. This is a community-driven project from day one. Always has been, Learning a language is hard, and we need the community's help to make it better. ”